Means for holding bed covers



April 25,, 1939; A. SIMPSON MEANS FOR HOLDING BED COVERS INVENTOR.

ANDREW SIMPSON ATTORNEY. 5

Patented Apr. 25, 1939 sets sat FIE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to means and devices for retaining bed coversupon beds, and particularly over the lower ends thereof.

It is common knowledge that many persons find difficulty in keeping bedcoverings over their bodies, while sleeping. Such difficulty isparticularly frequent in keeping the-covers over the feet of thesleeper. As colds, and other diseases frequently follow chilling of thefeet, in cold weather, it is very important that the feet be keptcovered, and covered in such a way, that the feet will not be tightlyconfined, and so disturb the slumbers.

Various appliances have been tried for retaining bed covers in desiredpositions, but such devices have been unsatisfactory for differentreasons. Some of such devices have been so constructed for attachingdirectly to the covers in various ways, whereby such covers have beentorn by contact and tension. Other devices have also been tried, butthey are either too free, or bind the covers so tightly, that the feetbeneath the same become uncomfortably restricted in movement.

It is therefore among the objects of this invention to provide a meansand method of application thereof, for retaining bed covers in desiredpositions upon a bed, whereby no injury is done to the covers, andwhereby they will be retained over the feet of the sleeper, with suchfreedom that restful slumber with covered feet will be assured.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a rectangular body offabric or other suitable netting or cloth, with suitable drawstringsthreaded through each end thereof, for sustaining such fabric across andover the foot portion of bed covers, for loosely retaining such coversin desired positions.

A still further object is to apply such holders both across the top ofthe lower ends of such covers, and also across the lower ends of suchcovers and the lower end of the accompanying mattress in perpendicularrelation, and, to then draw the outer ends of such holders forward anddownward, to prevent accidental displacement of such covers over thefoot of the bed.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter stated, I haveillustratively exemplified my invention by the accompanying drawing, ofwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of bed and coverings thereon and theholder in place thereover.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the holder, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end view of the holder over bed covers withparts broken away.

Like numerals and characters on the different figures represent likeparts. Numeral A, represents a bedstead post, with similar side rails 5,on each side of the bed, ordinary coil springs 6, and a mattress l, withany suitable bed. covers 8.

My holder is generally indicated as A, and is preferably formed ofsuitable flexible netting or fabric, such as strong washable cloth, ofany desired quality, or color. The main body A, is substantiallyrectangular, of sufficient length to extend crosswise across the desiredbed, and leave extensions on each side thereof, as 9, 9, to be turned orfolded forward, alongside the mattress. Spaced apart along each end areeyelets IO, for drawstrings or cords H, and hooks l2, which areconnected to outer loops of the cords.

In the use the bed covers are first spread out in desired positions overthe mattress, and the body A, laid or disposed, over and across the footof the covers, with approximately one half, indicated as l3, of suchholder, substantially horizontal, and the other half l4, turned downwardat right angles and perpendicularly disposed across the lower ends ofthe covers and mattress. The projecting ends 9, 9, which are similar oneach side of the bed, are then drawn forward and downward by means ofthe cords, whereby the extremities of the holders are somewhat narrowedby folds, and the bed covers retained by the holder in desired position.The hook may be then connected to any of the springs, beneath themattress, or may be connected in any suitable hole as I5, in the siderail. The housekeeper may then conceal both the holders and connectingmeans by any ordinary fanciful bed spread, as 16.

The cords are easily adjusted for length, for normally retaining theholder in desired position with suitable tension, to prevent theaccidental displacement thereof, on either side, or from being drawnforward from the feet. The cords may be formed of elastic material, ifpreferred, for automatic tension.

In practice it has been found that the bed covers are easily retained insuitable position by friction from the holder, and that such holder neednot be bound tightly over the covers for that purpose. By the use ofthis holder, it is not necessary to rearrange the lower ends of thecovers except at long intervals, as little displacement occurs by theoccupation of the bed for any one night. Much time and labor istherefore saved by the use of this holder as well as providing a safetydevice against discomfort and colds.

Having described my invention I claim as new:

1. A device for maintaining bed covers in proper position on a mattresscomprising a rectangular strip of flexible material of a length longerthan the width of a bed, eyelets spaced apart across the opposite endsof the material, separate draw strings threaded through such eyelets andextended outward in loop formation for retaining such material indesired position, one half of such material positioned across the lowerends of bed clothes, and the other half positioned across the ends ofsuch bed covers and mattress, hooks in the outer ends of said loops andmeans for connecting said hooks beneath said mattress at a point forwardfrom the foot of said bed for binding said fabric loosely over andaround the lower ends of said covers and mattress, to prevent suchcovers from accidentally becoming moved from the proper position on thefoot of said bed.

2. A sleeping bed with mattress and covers thereon, and means formaintaining by friction and lower ends of such covers in a predeterminedposition over the foot of said mattress, including a rectangular stripof fabric with one edge thereof positioned over and across the top ofsaid covers adjacent the foot of said mattress, the other edge thereofturned down at right angles and across the lower ends of such cover andmattress drawstrings looped through the opposite ends of such strip, theends of such fabric bent forward from the foot of said bed and crimpedlongitudinally for confining such covers loosely over such mattress, andmeans connecting said loops to said bed below the top of such mattress,for retaining said strip in said positions for predetermined periods.

3. A bed mattress, with covers thereon, means for retaining such coverson the foot of such mattress, including, a rectangular fabric bodyhaving one side portion disposed over and across the lower portion ofsaid covers and the other side of said body disposed across and behindthe lower ends of such covers and mattress, the outer ends of suchfabric bent forward alongside said mattress and covers, with means forsustaining such ends in said forward position to provide frictionaltension against the lower portions of such covers, for retaining thesame in position.

ANDREW SIMPSON.

